Behind the Wheel

Honda's Odyssey Minivan Vaults Straight to the Head of the Class of '99

At the controls--thanks to a four-wheel independent suspension, with double wishbones at the rear--the feel and view from the bridge are about the same as if you were driving a compact sport-utility. There is absolutely no awareness of 14 feet of seats and space back there. Lowered seating, and an even lower center of gravity, erases that sense of being part of a pole-sitting contest.

Low-rate, long-travel springs soak up all the gullies and thumps of Broadway between 2nd and 4th streets, which is the worst stretch of street since the first grading of the Appian Way. Clearly, this is not the type of vehicle for hot-lapping Willow Springs International Raceway, but the engine is strong, mid-range acceleration is slightly better than par, and that makes the Odyssey eminently freeway friendly.

But here's its real threat to its entrenched rival:

Chrysler has never been able to break a habit of selling cars with irritating glitches and weevils in the plastic.

Honda, on the better hand, continues to live up to its reputation for building super-reliable cars that for their first years seem to render warranties superfluous.

There, in the minivan long haul, could build the serious siege and initial uprooting of Town & Country.

* Fuel consumption, city and highway, with four-speed automatic: 18 and 26 miles per gallon (Environmental Protection Agency estimates).

Curb Weight

* 4,288 pounds.

***

The Good: Bigger and better than Chrysler, the minivan marque it must now attack. All the room but none of the soggy ride of most family buses. Priced well for equipment offered, with two power sliding doors, plus adjustable, folding, removable and hideaway seats designed by Houdini. All this and Honda's legendary quality and reliability.

The Bad: No leather interior for non-vegans. External styling indicating nobody dared to be different.